Often over 25% or more of the adults come to know the True Light by the time the classes have concluded, and many say they are reading the Word of God daily. Almost every Literacy class is resulting in the formation of a home fellowship.

India has more illiterate people than any other nation. Fifty percent of India's 1.2 billion people are functionally illiterate. The majority of Indian women living in rural areas and slums are illiterate.

Targeted people are desperate illiterates who are destined to be nothing, destined to become nothing, and destined to have nothing. They usually live on the outskirts of their villages or in slums. Children do not attend school.

Their dwellings are 6' x 10' and made of mud walls and bamboo sticks that hold up a roof made of leaves. Many huts have no electricity, and no beds or toilets. Five to eight people will live together in one of these huts.

Consequences of Illiteracy

Economic loss and poverty.

Staggering health problems with much sickness and disease.

Absence of population control.

Exploitation on all levels.

Spiritual deprivation.

Our Goals

We want to help these rehabilitated villages become agents of change as they become examples for surrounding villages to learn the benefits of literacy incorporating truths from the Word of God.

We want to rehabilitate entire villages through teaching literacy, awareness of social issues, economic uplift and spiritual development.

The potential exists for the transformation of an entire village in which the physical, social, economic, and spiritual dimensions of the lives of the villagers are dramatically affected.

Our Solution - Literacy Programs Featuring the Word of God

Dr. Joyce Scott, a 50-year missionary in India, developed a literacy ministry in which classes meet 2 hours per night, 5 nights per week for 10 months. When people complete this course, many can read at a 5th grade level.

As they practice reading they also learn about:

Basic health and personal hygiene.

Nutrition and proper diet.

Community sanitation.

Family relationships.

Pre- and Post- natal care.

Self-help skills resulting in financial improvement.

Political rights.

Government programs for the poor.

AIDS prevention, leprosy care, and alcoholism recovery

Most importantly, the primers have content from the Word of God and each graduate is awarded a complete Word of God for themselves.

The literacy primers are now available in all 17 major languages in India.

Since 1984, GTI's indigenous partner has partnered with over 600 churches and social organizations in 33 states and 7 union territories in India to promote literacy and spiritual growth among the illiterates.

Results of Literacy Program

As the literacy program completes in a village, noticeable differences can be witnessed including:

Sanitation and health are improved.

Knowledge of rights improves living conditions.

Less physical and emotional abuse occurs.

Children go to school, and there is a decrease in child labor.

Decrease in number of child marriages.

Pride in self and community coming from knowing each person is of value.

Goal of 2 Year Project

Train 20 Literacy Teachers

Conduct 20 Literacy Classes, helping 500 people to become literate and learn the glad tidings of the True God.

Cost - $30 per student, also prints at least 6 Bibles.

Total - $15,000 - prints at least 3,000 Bibles in addition to training 20 teachers and teaching 500 people to read.

Seven Reasons Why a Literacy Rehabilitation Project Should be Considered

Highly Personalized You, your church, or your organization can be responsible for the rehabilitation of your own specific village in India. The program is tracked on a regular basis and annual reports are sent to you.

The success rate is phenomenal Over 88% of those enrolling in the Literacy classes complete the 10-month program.

The program multiplies itself 30% are formally involved in the 'Each One Teach One' program. Each person becoming literate in India will impact 5 others to become literate, perpetuating education.

Literacy courses teach students to help themselves Self-help skills are taught along with basic instruction in finance. Daily wages increase 40% after literacy.

Helps downtrodden women The majority of students are female.

Basic health instruction is given to prevent disease The World Health Organization has said in 5 years India will have more cases of AIDS than any other nation in the world.

Fantastic spiritual results are being seen due to the primers featuring the Word of God.